National Grid building, portion of Syracuse's Strathmore area nominated for historic lists

Syracuse, NY -- National Grid’s Art Deco Syracuse office and a portion of the city’s Strathmore section have been approved by the state Board of Historic Preservation for inclusion on the state and nation registers of historic places, state officials announced.

The utility’s 77-year-old office at 300 Erie Blvd. E., officially called the Niagara Hudson Building, “is an outstanding example of Art Deco architecture and a symbol of the Age of Electricity,” officials of the state Office of Parks & Recreation said in a prepared statement.

The Onondaga Highlands-Swaneola Heights Historic District is “a turn-of-the-20th-century subdivision where the rolling topography, uniform building setback and popular residential styles form a cohesive neighborhood that retains its architectural integrity,” parks officials said.

The district is bounded by Bellevue Avenue on the north, Onondaga Avenue on the east, Onondaga Park at Crossett Street on the south, and the west side of Clairmonte Avenue on the west.

The local sites were among 28 statewide approved by the board. The roster may be refined further before final approval by the state historic preservation officer. That would get them on the state Register of Historic Places and win their consideration for placement on the National Register of Historic Places, said Dan Keefe, speaking for the parks department.